ABSTRACT

We used the developmental systems model to deduce a definition of female early adolescent sexual desire. We evaluated a measure of this phenomenon with a secondary analysis of data from a randomized group sexual health intervention trial involving low-income, English-speaking, seventh grade Latinas enrolled in a Miami-Dade County public school (n = 542). As part of this study, girls completed a four-item early adolescent sexual desire (EASD) measure. Study findings supported internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = .81 to .82) and stability over a 1-month period (r = .74). Developmental sensitivity was supported by a decline in stability over 12- (r = .66) and 24-month periods (r = .56). Validity was supported by correlations with puberty changes, sexual intentions, sexting, and sexual behavior, and hypothesized mean differences associated with dating and preference for shoes culturally associated with female sexual attractiveness (p < .01). Research implications include validation work with other ethnic/racial groups and using the EASD as a starting point for a measurement continuum tracking development of sexual desire across adolescence and into adulthood. Directions for future research also include measuring the development of sexual desire in boys and transgendered youth across adolescence and into adulthood.

摘要

我们使用发育系统模型来推断女性早期青春期性欲的定义。我们通过对来自迈阿密戴德县公立学校 ( n =  542)的低收入、说英语、七年级拉丁裔的随机分组性健康干预试验数据的二次分析来评估这种现象的衡量标准。作为这项研究的一部分，女孩们完成了一项由四项组成的早期青春期性欲 (EASD) 测量。研究结果支持内部一致性（Cronbach's alpha = .81 至 .82）和 1 个月期间的稳定性（r = .74）。在 12- ( r = .66) 和 24 个月期间 ( r= .56）。有效性得到了与青春期变化、性意图、性短信和性行为的相关性的支持，以及与约会和对鞋子的偏好相关的假设平均差异在文化上与女性性吸引力相关 ( p < .01)。研究意义包括与其他种族/种族群体的验证工作，以及使用 EASD 作为测量连续体跟踪青春期和成年期性欲发展的起点。未来研究的方向还包括测量男孩和变性青年从青春期到成年期的性欲发展。